Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Holy Saturday - what does this mean? Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the meaning of the holiday.

On Orthodox icons it is customary to depict the Archangel Gabriel holding a flower in his hands - a symbol of good news. It is he who is given by God to bring people joyful, or in other words, good news. Therefore, Archangel Gabriel is always a welcome guest. But he brought the best news for all people in the world two thousand years ago, to the very young Virgin Mary. The Messenger of God announced that the Savior of the world would be incarnated from Her womb. It is with these words of his that the story of the Feast of the Annunciation begins.

Betrothal of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In ancient Judea, people grew up early. Those who had already reached the age of fourteen were considered adults. So the Blessed Virgin Mary, having barely left childhood, and being raised in the temple from an early age, was required by law to either return to her parents or get married. But the vow of eternal virginity that was once given closed the path to simple family happiness. From now on, Her life belonged only to God.

Her mentors, the priests of the temple where she spent her childhood and youth, found a simple and wise solution: the Virgin Mary was betrothed to a distant relative, an eighty-year-old man named Joseph. Thus, the young woman’s life is financially secure, and the vow she gave to the Lord remained unbroken. After the marriage ceremony, Mary settled in the city of Nazareth in the house of her betrothed. It was under this title that Saint Joseph, the guardian of the purity and virginity of the future Mother of God, entered the Holy Scriptures.

Appearance of Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin of Nazareth

The Blessed Virgin lived in the new house for four months, devoting all of Her time to prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures. It was this pious activity that God’s messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, found her doing. Under the rustle of his wings, he announced to the amazed Virgin about the greatest mission entrusted to her by the Creator of the universe.

This event was called the Annunciation Holy Mother of God. The history of the holiday cannot be complete without paying attention to why the Lord chose Her. The answer is simple - exceptional purity, immaculateness and devotion to God set her apart from the great multitude of other girls. Such a great mission required a righteous woman, whose equal had not been since the creation of the world.

Willingness to fulfill the will of the Creator

To understand the full significance of the event described in the Gospel, it is important to take into account this aspect of what happened. In this case, as always, the Lord provides his creation - man full of action. Please note how important to Archangel Gabriel is the response of the Virgin Mary and Her voluntary consent. There is no hint of any coercion here.

The Messenger of God speaks of a conception that must take place contrary to human nature, which cannot but cause a skeptical reaction, but the power of Mary’s faith is so great that She unconditionally believes everything she hears. The question of how She can conceive, having not known her husband, comes down only to the desire to find out the details of what is to come. Her readiness to fulfill her destiny is evident from every line describing the great Biblical event - the Annunciation.

History of the holiday, briefly about the most important

This event has become the subject of study by many scientists. As is clear from their works, which center on the history of the Annunciation holiday, simple logical reasoning was used to establish the date of the celebration.

If we consider the moment of the Immaculate Conception to be the day when the Virgin Mary, in response to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, replied: “Let it be done according to your word,” then it is quite natural that this day should be distant from the day when Jesus Christ was born, that is, from the holiday Christmas, for nine months. It is not difficult to calculate that such a day for Orthodox Christians is March 25th, and for Western Christians it is March 25th.

Discoveries of Saint Helen Equal to the Apostles

The holiday of the Annunciation, the history of which goes back to ancient times, according to historians, began to be celebrated in the 4th century, although images of scenes from this event were discovered during excavations of catacombs dating back to the 3rd and even 2nd centuries. In the 4th century, the most important event in the life of the entire Christian world took place - Helen of the Apostles discovered the places of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and began the construction of temples in the Holy Land.

Naturally, this was the reason for increased interest in everything connected with Christmas, the Resurrection and all other events of the Savior’s earthly life. It is not surprising that it was during this period that the emergence of the holiday was noted. Thus, the history of the feast of the Annunciation has a direct connection with the discoveries of this great ascetic.

Celebration of the Annunciation in Byzantium and the West

Following further in chronological order, it should be noted that the history Orthodox holiday The Annunciation has its beginning in Byzantium. In the 7th century, it firmly became one of the most celebrated days of the church calendar. However, it must be admitted that in historical documents There are separate references to it from the previous two centuries, but, apparently, we are talking about only isolated cases.

In the Western tradition, the history of the holiday of the Annunciation begins approximately in the same period as in eastern church. Sergius I (687-701) included it among the three main holidays dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was celebrated quite solemnly and was accompanied by a festive procession through the streets of Rome.

Historical names of this holiday and its status

It is curious that this holiday was not always called the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday also remembers other names. For example, in the writings of some ancient authors it is referred to as the “Day of Salutation” or “Annunciation”. The name that is used today comes from the Greek word “evangelismos”. It is first found in historical documents of the 7th century.

At that time, the holiday was considered equally both the Lord's and the Theotokos, but time has brought its changes. If in the Orthodox tradition of the East he still remains one of major events year, then in the West its role has narrowed somewhat, leaving it only a place of minor holiday.

Celebration of the Annunciation in the Orthodox world

In the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve, great, immovable holidays. As during the services of other Mother of God feasts, the clergy on this day are required to wear vestments blue color. One can name a number of circumstances indicating that completely special meaning In the Orthodox Church there is a holiday of the Annunciation.

History in particular indicates how much attention the Church Fathers paid to it. At the 6th Ecumenical Council, held in 680 in Constantinople, a document was adopted according to which on the day of this holiday, despite the fact that according to the calendar it falls during the period of Great Lent, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is served, and not the Presanctified Gifts, which is indicating its exceptional significance.

The Annunciation writes about the importance of the holiday in His writings and He calls it “the first holiday” and even “the root of the holidays.” Today, on this day, a weakening of fasting is prescribed. In particular, eating fish and oil (oil) is allowed. Among the people, it is one of the most beloved, bringing peace and joy, because it is based on the good news, that is, news filled with the Grace of God.

Revival of Orthodox culture in Russia

Nowadays, when, after many decades of state atheism, the Orthodox Church has again taken its rightful place, many of our compatriots are filled with the desire to return to the spiritual roots of their people and learn as much as possible from what until recently was closed to them. In particular, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is of great interest among them. The history of the holiday, traditions and rituals - everything becomes the subject of inquisitive study.

Another important aspect modern life is to study the foundations of Orthodox culture among children. This is important so that the tragic mistake of past years is not repeated, when entire generations in our country grew up and entered into life in isolation from the faith of their ancestors. And in this regard, work is underway these days. Many Biblical events and holidays are presented in a child-friendly version.

Teaching the basics of Orthodox culture to children

This also applies to the Feast of the Annunciation. The history of the holiday for children is presented in such a way that, despite the adapted nature of the text, the meaning of the event itself remains unchanged and understandable to the child. This is, of course, the difficulty of the task. The history of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, briefly but meaningfully presented, should be deposited in the most gracious way in children's consciousness.

Sunday schools, organized these days at many churches, play an invaluable role in the revival of Orthodox culture. By the way, their program also includes introducing students to the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday for children and adults attending these classes is of great interest, since many have heard about it, but have a very vague idea of ​​its content.

Folk traditions on the day of the Annunciation

For a long time, people have established traditions associated with this holiday. Since it falls on spring month, then, naturally, many of them are associated with the beginning of field work. There was a tradition according to which, on the day of the holiday, grain prepared for sowing was poured into a tub, and, placing the “Annunciation” icon on top, they said a special prayer for the gift of bountiful harvest. In it, the peasants turned to the Most Holy Theotokos and Her Eternal Son with a request to bless the grain “sown into mother earth.”

There were also traditions that were clear echoes of paganism. Among them was, for example, this one. In the evening on the eve of the holiday, cabbage heads from last year's harvest were taken out from cellars or pantries. They were placed, secretly from everyone, on the ground near the road along which they were going to go to church the next day. And so the next day, returning after mass, it was necessary to pick up the heads of cabbage, find the seeds in them and plant them in the garden along with fresh seedlings. It was believed that in this case there would be a rich harvest of cabbage, which was not afraid of any frost.

The ancient worship of our pagan ancestors to fire and its cleansing power found expression in one of the folk Annunciation traditions. This refers to the custom according to which old clothes, shoes, bedding, and the like were burned on this day. Living quarters and outbuildings were filled with smoke. Particular attention was paid to livestock, which were also carefully fumigated, thereby hoping to protect them from all evil spirits.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important Christian holidays. In Orthodoxy, this event is of great importance for every believer.

History and meaning of the Annunciation

This is the twelfth holiday, which means it has a fixed date - April 7. Its second name is Annunciation. This is absolutely no coincidence, because on this day, according to legend, the Virgin Mary was notified by the Archangel Gabriel that she would soon give birth to the savior of all righteous people- Jesus Christ.

Apostle Luke wrote in his Gospel that the Mother of God learned about the holiness of her unborn child and its great significance in the life of every person in the sixth month of pregnancy. The Virgin Mary was in Nazareth, where the angel appeared. He said the following words, which later became the basis of the prayer:

Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among wives. Do not be afraid, for you have found the grace of God. You carry the Son of God in your womb, and after his birth you will call his name Jesus. He will reign forever with his Father, and his kingdom will have no end.

The significance of the Annunciation in Christianity is enormous. This holiday and the very fact of the secret holy conception atones for the sin of Eve, who was the very first woman to know it. In fact, church leaders and sages believe that Mary became the second Eve. Exactly the Eve she was supposed to become later - submissive and humble, kind and respectful of God.

Traditions on April 7

The Annunciation is the twelfth holiday, which is categorically not celebrated if it falls during Holy Week. In terms of its significance, this day is ranked by the clergy on a par with the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany.

On April 7, churches hold a special liturgy, the features of which depend on the day of the week and the date. Many points are very important, so you should clarify with the church what can and cannot be done. One interesting point is that sometimes this event falls on Easter itself. Then the holidays are combined and celebrated sequentially - first Easter, and then the Annunciation.

The Ecumenical Council established one important rule due to the exclusivity of the holiday. On this day, the full liturgy is celebrated in all churches, despite Lent. Let us remind you that this is prohibited in any other cases. If the day does not fall on Holy Week, then you can eat olive oil, wine and fish. If the holiday falls on Good Friday or on the Saturday before Easter, then it is celebrated on Sunday - the first day of Easter.

April 7 is great date for every self-respecting Christian. If you do not have the opportunity to visit church, then read the prayer “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary” at home. Believe in God, love your family and live righteously. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

On April 7, Russia celebrates the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary- one of the oldest Twelve Mother of God holidays.

Annunciation in history:

Evangelist Luke spoke in detail and reliably about the events that took place in the city of Nazareth. God's messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, unexpectedly appeared to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, engaged to an elderly carpenter named Joseph. “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women,” he said and told the distraught Virgin: “You have found grace from God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus.” The Pious Virgin was at first confused. But a moment later she answered with words that express Her love for God and boundless readiness to fulfill His plans: “I am the servant of the Lord, and let it be done to Me according to Your word.”

Thus began a new era for a significant part of humanity, which very soon began to be called Christian.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary - so Christian Church names the great twelfth holiday, dedicated to the memory of Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary of the mystery of the incarnation of God the Word from Her. (Luke 1:26-38). This sacred event took place, according to church tradition, on March 25/April 7 in the sixth month after the conception of the holy prophet John the Baptist by the holy righteous Elizabeth.

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, from the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.” (Luke 1:26-27)

This is how the gospel story begins about an event called “annunciation,” which means “good, joyful news.”

The twelfth holiday - the Feast of the Annunciation - is dedicated to this event., belonging to the most ancient holidays in honor of the Virgin Mary, indications of which come from the 4th century. Saint John Chrysostom calls the Annunciation “the first feast” and “the root of the feasts.” Also, the Sixth Ecumenical Council, in its 52nd canon, decided to celebrate the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on the day of the Annunciation, and not the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated during Lent. And among the people this holiday is considered the greatest, bringing with it peace and joy.

Why is this event so revered by the Universal Church and even by people often very far from the Church of Christ? What did the Angel announce to the Virgin Mary? “The angel came to her and said: Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28), the Gospel of Luke further narrates.

What a strange greeting! Gabriel, standing before God, comes to earth and utters words that have never been addressed to any mortal in the entire history of mankind: neither to wives, nor to great men.

“When she saw him, she was troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this would be” (Luke 1:29).

Church tradition tells us that until the age of 15, the Blessed Virgin was raised in church. The angels of God brought Her comfort and instructed Her. That is why, when the Angel appeared to Her this time, Mary was not afraid of the very appearance of the heavenly messenger, but was only embarrassed, because she understood that such words had never been addressed to any other person. “And the Angel said to Her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him a throne David His father; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end" (Luke 1:30-33).

Thus, Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin ancient prophecy Books of Psalms: “Hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. And the King will desire your beauty; for He is your Lord, and you shall worship Him” (Ps. 44: 11-12) , which reveals the human birth of Christ from the Virgin. It is from Her that the long-awaited Savior of the world, the Messiah, the Anointed One, who will reign forever and there will be no end to His Kingdom, must be born - that is who must be born from Her.

Tradition says that Mary took a vow of virginity, and her husband, Joseph, was the guardian of virginity. True to the word given to God, a vow that Mary could not even imagine breaking, causes amazement in Her: “How will this be when I don’t know my husband?” (Luke 1:34). In these words we discover the true wisdom of the Blessed Virgin. For She did not act as Eve acted before Her, who listened to the sweet words of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The saint did not accept what was said recklessly, but in essence repeated the vow she had made.

And then the Angel confirms his Heavenly messenger and resolves Her doubt: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Gabriel thus reveals the conception that this conception will be not by human nature, but by a supernatural order, that the vow of virginity will not be broken and Mary will always be called the Ever-Virgin.

And in order to finally dispel all doubts regarding the possibility of such a thing, he emphasizes the omnipotence of God: “Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, who is called barren, and she conceived in her old age, and she is already in her sixth month, for with God no word will fail (Lk. 1, 36-37).

But let's see what Mary says to this? Does Her doubt continue, does She resist this blessing? The Evangelist writes: “Then Mary said: Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Saint Athanasius the Great commented on these words as follows: “The All-Holy Virgin, having said: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord, let it be done to Me according to your word,” thereby expressed the following: I am the tablet on which the Scribe writes everything that pleases Him. The Lord of all yes writes and creates what he wants."

“And at that very moment,” writes Demetrius of Rostov, “by the action of the Holy Spirit, an indescribable conception took place in Her holy womb, without carnal pleasure, but not without spiritual delight. In this delight of Her spirit the Son of God was conceived, “And the Word became flesh , and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). This is why the Church of Christ calls us to rejoice.

This is why the earth glorifies the glory of God: a great event has happened in the life of all mankind - Archangel Gabriel, in the holy gospel, brought us the joyful news that deliverance has come, that Christ, the promised Mission, will be born of the Virgin Mary.

By celebrating the Annunciation, we celebrate the beginning of the New Testament day. The time has come for the fulfillment of the Lord's holy promise about “the Seed of the woman, which will erase the head of the serpent” (Gen. 3:15).

This day- the beginning of our salvation, about which the Holy Church immutably testifies: “The day of our salvation is the main thing, and from the ages of the sacrament the manifestation: the Son of God, the Son of the Virgin comes and Gabriel preaches grace. In the same way, we cry out to the Mother of God with him: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” By you."

Traditions, rituals and customs for the Annunciation:

Since ancient times, people have believed that on the Annunciation, which marked the beginning of spring and the new agricultural year, the Lord himself blesses the earth and opens it for fertility and sowing.

There was a ritual of “illuminating” the sowing grain: the peasant placed the Annunciation icon in a tub of grain and said: “Mother of God, Gabriel the Archangel, bless us with the harvest.”

On the eve of the Annunciation, peasants went to cellars or cellars, where they took cabbage cabbage (unnoticed by strangers) - the first one removed from the garden in the fall - and laid it on the ground.

There was a belief that if the next day, walking from the Annunciation mass, you take this pumpkin, then you can find seeds on it. If you plant seedlings along with these seeds, then the cabbage that grows from them will not be afraid of any frosts - neither spring nor autumn.

Among the Annunciation customs, there were also ancient pagan rituals that expressed faith in the cleansing power of fire: old bedding, shoes, and clothes were burned; the premises of the home and outbuildings were fumigated to protect themselves and livestock from diseases.

The Annunciation was perceived by the people as a holiday of spring, as a symbol of the beginning of universal prosperity - in nature and in people's lives. Probably connected with this is the good custom of releasing birds from cages, snares and nets into the wild on this day.

Traditions and customs for the Annunciation.

According to legend, one of the strictest prohibitions on this day was knitting, sewing and weaving. This tradition is connected with the fact that our ancestors believed that threads are the destinies of people that can be confused and bring partings, quarrels and strife into the house.

At the Annunciation, birds were given special significance. The ritual of releasing birds, often pigeons, was associated with them. For this purpose, there were special catchers, who then sold the birds for the ritual. There was a belief that pigeons would bring news of good deeds man to the angels, who will subsequently reward him for this.

On the night of April 6-7, it used to be customary to “warm up the spring,” so at that time a holiday was held with bonfires, where garbage, old shoes, straw and rags were burned. IN last time they called for spring, danced in circles and sang songs.

As already mentioned, you cannot work on this day, but you could consecrate seeds and seedlings for the harvest. After all, according to legend, God himself opens the sky to bless the earth for a good harvest.

One of the most interesting traditions On this day the preparation of Annunciation salt takes place. This was done in order to take advantage of it in case of any illness. All family members took a pinch of salt and placed it in a bag, which the hostess subsequently calcined over the fire. If this salt was not needed throughout the year, then on the Annunciation it was burned, believing that with it all troubles and misfortunes would disappear. They did the same with blessed water and prosphora, which the hostess kept all year.

Separately, it is worth noting that many Orthodox Christians after the service tried to purchase as much prosphora as possible, but if they did not succeed, they baked it themselves. Then a festive dinner was held, where the housewives crushed this blessed bread and gave it to all family members; the women saved some of it to add crumbs to livestock feed.

Also, many believed that if you make a lot of noise on this day, rattle basins, ring bells, this will scare away predatory animals and save livestock.

In Rus', the Orthodox people had their own traditions and beliefs on this holiday:

*A long time ago, according to legend, people took salt burned in the stove on this day, then added it to the dough, baked buns and then ate them, sharing them even with their livestock, thereby curing themselves from various diseases.

*The Annunciation spoke of the arrival of spring, nature wakes up on this day. If you work or do anything on this holiday, it will be considered a great sin. In ancient times, even any creature felt great triumph and spent the day motionless.

*At night, leave the night light burning all night for the happiness and wealth of the whole family.

*On Annunciation, between matins and mass (at about 12 o'clock) you need to drive the chickens off the pole with a broom. They will lay good eggs.

*The Annunciation prosphyra is sometimes kept for a whole year, in case someone in the family gets sick, so that they can later be treated with it.

*They burn salt in the oven and store the ash to sprinkle the garden, from harm and hail. Ash taken from the ash pit at the Annunciation has the power to treat damage.

*Do not borrow. The one who gave away from home at the Annunciation gave peace and health.

*It is better not to spend time on Annunciation special attention hairstyle, hair will fall out. It is said: a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair.

*Whoever calls her husband “dear” forty times from morning to midnight on Annunciation Day will have her husband’s beloved all year long.

*If you give alms on the Annunciation before washing, then there will be prosperity in the house for a whole year.

The Russian people have composed many sayings about this holiday:

*There are many useful signs and proverbs to follow. The following can be distinguished:

“If there is fog or wind on this holiday, there will be a fruitful year”, “Rain - there will be rye”, “Thunderstorm - expect warm summer", "The cuckoo will be without a nest, since it made it for the Annunciation."

*On the Annunciation, people bake prosphora and light it in the church at night, then place them next to the icons.
Back in the old days, people mixed grain with prosphora crumbs to protect the crop from pests and bad weather(sprinkled the garden).

*At the Annunciation, spring overcame winter.

*On Annunciation and Easter, sinners are not tormented in hell.

*A gypsy sells a fur coat at Annunciation.

*On Annunciation rain - rye will be born.

Signs for the Annunciation:

Everyone knows the saying - “A bird does not build a nest, and a maiden does not braid her hair” - this is the main meaning of the holiday, no work, no work - a day of Joy and Holiday for the soul. Liberation from earthly worries and thoughts about the eternal.

On this day there are blessings for every good deed - on the day when even sinners in hell cease to be tormented and are given rest and freedom.

The greatest sin The smallest work is considered, even leaving or going on the road to earn money.

Not idle fun with the seasoning of festive revelry, namely concentrated, silent meditation befits this holiday of complete peace, freedom from business, based on the immutable belief and universal conviction that “on Annunciation Day, a bird does not curl its nest, a maiden does not braid its braids.”

What if you have to go to work?

Of course, no one will judge or punish for this, the meaning here is different:

No house cleaning, no laundry or urgent repairs, even food needs to be prepared in advance, so that you can do nothing at Annunciation but just relax! Put off everything possible for another day!

Otherwise, as the legend says, luck will turn away from you for a whole year!

As it turns out, it’s not easy to relax... and for some reason, it’s on days like these that you really want to do something, work! :)

Signs for the Annunciation

Many peasants carefully monitored the weather that day. If there was rain on the Annunciation, then they prepared for a good harvest of rye, but if there was a thunderstorm, then they believed that nuts would be born this year.

The fishermen hoped that on this day there would be rainy weather, because they believed that there would be a good catch all year then.

On this day, many families tried not to quarrel and live in peace and tranquility, as they believed that a year will pass the way you spend the Annunciation.

The peasants expected wind, frost and fog, because according to popular belief, this promises a good harvest for the whole year.

Thieves had their own belief. If you manage to steal something on this day, then the next year will be successful and prosperous.

If swallows did not appear on Annunciation, then everyone was preparing for a cold winter.

If you bought new clothes the day before and on the day of the holiday, then under no circumstances should you try them on that day, otherwise, according to the superstition, the item would quickly deteriorate and tear.

What else you can’t do at Annunciation:

Not only can’t you comb your hair, otherwise it will fall out, but you also can’t cut it or dye it - otherwise the hair will not grow.

The stoves are not heated, the fire is not lit - i.e. You cannot cook or heat food on gas or fire - Otherwise, you will suffer with your stomach all year or you will have to starve.

Which day of the week Annunciation, on that day throughout the year, There is no point in starting any new business - everything will go to waste!

Under no circumstances should you sew or cut with scissors! Otherwise, you will either get stuck in business or cut your happiness into pieces.....

You can't sow or plant anything- Any seedlings planted on this day will not please you; they will be frail and painful.

After the Annunciation, this year on Thursday, throughout the year - on Thursdays, also do not plant or sow anything...

There is even a belief that on which day this holiday occurs, it is considered unlucky for sowing and plowing, and the next one after him is the most successful and happiest...

And if you mix crumbled prosphora with seeds, the harvest will greatly surprise and delight you! The harvest will be very good!

You can’t wear new clothes on Annunciation Day! Otherwise, it will definitely quickly tear or deteriorate. And there won’t be many new things all year... so this must be taken into account!

Beautiful signs and rituals for the Annunciation:

Since ancient times in Rus' it has been customary to on this day to release birds to freedom. In Moscow, this ritual was performed against Okhotny Ryad. People came here in the morning, bought birds and with their own hands released them from the cage into the wild.

Prosphora at the Annunciation has healing powers. Prosphora crumbs are added to the food of seriously ill people and they recover.

On the eve of the Annunciation, women burn salt in the oven on this day. This Annunciation salt works wonders in various diseases..

Another sign associated with Annunciation salt - he will be lucky who will guess on this day to burn a few pinches of salt in the oven

If the hostess, on the Annunciation, before noon, take the broom and drive the chickens off the roost, then they will try to rush to the Bright Holiday to prepare fresh eggs for the holiday of Christ.

“As you spend the Annunciation, so will the whole year” - that's why thieves steal on this day - for happiness.

On what day of the week is the Annunciation, do not start anything for the whole year, and the next one after him is the most successful and happiest.

Before the Annunciation, in the evening, big fires were lit, burned their straw beds, and jumped through the purifying fire.

Weather signs for Annunciation:

Frost on Annunciation means spring harvest.

On Annunciation there is frost - the harvest for cucumbers.

On Annunciation rain - rye will be born.

Thunderstorm on Annunciation - for a warm summer and a nut harvest.

They take the bees out of the omshenik.

Annunciation without swallows - cold spring.

On the eve of the Annunciation, peas are sown

If there is a red day on Annunciation - ... this year will be a fire year.

If it rains, ... it will be a mushroom year, and fishermen hope for successful fishing.

On the Annunciation, on a sunny day, wheat will be born; if there are few stars in the sky, then there will be few eggs.

Signs:

Don’t give anything to anyone on Annunciation - otherwise poverty will come to the house.
It was believed that the one who gave from home on the Annunciation spent family peace and peace on strangers.

If on the Annunciation from morning to midnight you call your husband “dear” forty times, your husband will love and cherish you all year long.

On Annunciation, you should not go to the hairdresser, and it is also not recommended to do anything with your hair and even comb your hair. A bird does not build a nest, a girl does not braid her hair."

You cannot wear new clothes for the Annunciation, otherwise you will tear or ruin them

What day of the week does the Annunciation fall on? all year round do not start any new business.

For example, if the Annunciation fell on Friday, then work does not begin on Friday throughout the entire year. From the Annunciation, no one will ever sow, so as not to bring about a failed harvest.

There is even a belief that on which day this holiday occurs, it is considered unlucky for sowing and plowing, and the next one after it is the most successful and happiest.

As the Gospel describes the plot of the Annunciation:

The events of the Annunciation are described by the only evangelist - the Apostle Luke. In his Gospel he reports that in the sixth month after conception righteous Elizabeth Saint John the Baptist Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth to the Virgin Mary with the news of the impending birth from her of the Savior of the world:

The angel came to Her and said:

- Rejoice, O Blessed One! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women.

She, seeing him, was embarrassed by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this would be.

And the Angel said to Her:

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.

(Luke 1:28-33)

Sandro Botticelli. 1489-1490. Uffizi, Florence

According to a number of theologians, the words of the Archangel Gabriel are “ Rejoice, Blessed One" - became the first “good” news for humanity after its fall.

Doubting (according to Gregory of Neocaesarea, fearing violation of her virginity), Mary asked the angel a question:

« How will this happen when I don’t know my husband? ».

What did the angel promise? seedless, mysterious conception -

« The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" and then in confirmation, " that with God no word will remain powerless", gave the example of her relative Elizabeth.

Mary, seeing the will of God in the angel’s words, utters very significant words:

« Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word».

It is believed that at the moment the Virgin Mary uttered these words, the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ took place.

Nikolai Kavasila comments on these words:

The Incarnation was not only the work of the Father, His Power and His Spirit, but also the work of the will and faith of the Blessed Virgin.

Without the consent of the Immaculate One, without the assistance of Her faith, this plan would have remained unfulfilled, just as without the action of the three Persons of the Divine Trinity Themselves.

Only after God has instructed and convinced the Holy Virgin does He accept Her as a Mother and borrow from Her flesh, which She joyfully provides to Him.

Just as He became incarnate voluntarily, so He also wanted His Mother to give birth to Him freely and of Her own free will.

With her submission and consent, according to Athanasius the Great, Mary expressed her confession of faith. He compares it to a tablet, " on which the Scribe writes whatever pleases Him. May the Lord of all write and do whatever he wants».

What preceded the Annunciation of Mary?

The episode of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel, according to the Gospel of Luke, was preceded by Gabriel’s visit to the barren Zechariah, married to Mary’s relative Elizabeth, during which the messenger promised the elderly couple the birth of the future John the Baptist.

And after the Annunciation, the Mother of God went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was preparing to leave household chores due to her pregnancy. There was a meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, during which Elizabeth became the second, after the angel, and the first of the people to tell Mary about the future fate of her baby and uttered the words that became part of many prayers:

« Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb!»

Joseph the Betrothed:

According to the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:19-24), the Archangel Gabriel appeared in a dream to Joseph the Betrothed, the husband of the Virgin Mary, who learned that before their betrothal she became pregnant and wished “ secretly let her go».

Gabriel reassured Joseph by saying:

« Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife, for what is born in Her is from the Holy Spirit; She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins».

After this, as the evangelist narrates, “ Joseph took his wife and did not know her».

On this day, the ritual “Return of Happiness” is performed.

Ritual "Return of Happiness".

(This ritual is performed only on April 7, it cannot be done on other days!)

Buy a bird in advance - titmouse, sparrow, pigeon, etc.

Prepare her food and water, over which you first tell her about everything that worries or saddens you, you can cry and lament.

Then read the Lord's Prayer over them.

and “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”

After this, give the bird food and water, and when it has eaten and drunk, release it.

Annunciation salt.

On the same day you can prepare Annunciation salt (used in the same cases as Thursday salt).

To do this, pour the salt into a bag of cotton fabric and before sunrise, at dawn, bake it in the oven for ten minutes. This salt can then be used throughout the year: salt food with it, clean your apartment with it, remove the evil eye and damage, etc.

Buns are baked with Annunciation salt to help cure a child from the evil eye.
The child should be given such buns on an empty stomach at dawn for three, seven or fourteen days - depending on the strength of the evil eye.

It is believed that on this day Heaven opens, grace descends on people and they get the opportunity to be cleansed of sins. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has long been considered a difficult day.

Quarrels, scandals, all kinds of misunderstandings are not uncommon on this day, so you need to try at all costs to control yourself and not give in to emotions.
Otherwise, troubles will stick with you for a long time.

On this day you should not do any housework, put on new clothes, or cook food (it is better to do everything the day before).

Amulet for the Annunciation.

A talisman that saves in grief and preserves in need.

Read on the candle for the Annunciation:

,In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Without a wrist, but with a cross under a crystal bridge.

He sleeps, sits, but hears and sees everything. An old saint with a gray beard, barefoot.

He sees and anticipates, He helps me in all sad cases:

From hunger and cold, from sword and fire,

From an irreconcilable sorcerer,

From old age and premature old age,

From all people of the volost, honest and dishonest,

From a vain trial, a terrible punishment.

The gray-haired saint sits under the crystal bridge,

He is sleeping, but he hears and sees everything. Whoever touches me will drop his staff.

Whoever inadvertently wakes him up will ruin himself.

Keys, padlocks, My words are secret and witchcraft.

Close yourself more than once or twice, my words,

Nine locks, nine keys.

Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen."

The day after the bright feast of the Annunciation, Orthodox people glorify the Archangel Gabriel.

People say that on April 8, the archangel descends from heaven to earth and fulfills all the desires of people.
In order for your plans to come true, you need to get up earlier and go outside.

Be sure to wear pectoral cross, since it is precisely by this that the archangel notices those asking.
Stand facing East, cross yourself three times and say out loud (but not loudly) 3 times the plot:

“Archangel Gabriel, servant of our Lord, hear the prayer of God’s servant (s) (your name) and fulfill my request (say your desire in your own words). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

The Archangel was also called Gabriel the Blagovest.
According to the sign, if on April 8 you receive a letter or telegram (now both SMS and emails), then you will soon learn good news.

For profit:

This method is ancient, but, like many centuries ago, it is still in demand and relevant. It is especially necessary for those who conduct private trade. On Annunciation, sprinkle your store with enchanted water before the first customer enters.

CONSPIRACY:

The Good News announced a miracle. The good news leads people to churches, and my conspiracy will attract people to my shop. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Call for luck:

This is how you can bring luck. Buy honey for the Annunciation, spread it on right palm and close it with the left. Immediately open your palms and seeing how difficult it is to do this (since your hands will stick together from the honey), say:

As honey melts, hand sticks to hand, so that luck sticks to me, God’s servant (name). Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen."

Fortune telling for the Annunciation

One of the main entertainments for young girls on any holiday was fortune telling. So on the Annunciation, the girls tried to monitor the weather, birds, and perform rituals in order to find out the future.

Fortune telling on a branch:

In order for any dream to come true, the girls looked for an elastic twig on the street that day and put it under the pillow before going to bed, having previously made a wish. The next morning, they took it out and looked at it; if it broke, then everything would definitely come true this year, but if the branch remained intact, then the dream would not come true.

Bird fortune telling:

When going outside, the girls carefully monitored which birds they came across most often on their way. If, for example, there are pigeons, then the whole spring will pass happily and joyfully, but if there are crows, then, on the contrary, it will be sad and boring. Sparrows and swallows promised calm and stability, but wagtails and dead birds - vanity, financial problems, instability.

Also, when the girls woke up on the Annunciation, they immediately ran to the window to see what kind of bird would be on the window. If it is a tit or a dove, then you can expect pleasant changes and good luck in love. If it is a sparrow, then in the near future there will be failures and financial difficulties.

Fortune telling on the prosphora:

In ancient times, the following fortune telling could sometimes be found in many families. In advance, women bought prosphora in the church, and put a penny into one of them. Then they gathered all the household members together so that each of them could choose a consecrated prosphora for themselves. Whoever gets a penny will be happy all year, everything that he does not plan will definitely work out, and good luck and success will accompany him all year.

Fortune telling for the harvest:

In order to find out what the harvest would be like, housewives hung a wet rag outside at night. If it dries completely overnight, then expect a bountiful harvest and a warm summer. However, when the rag was frozen in the morning, then, according to legend, there would not be a good harvest, and the summer would be very cold.

Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos:

First prayer.

Accept, O All-merciful, Most Pure Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only one bestowed upon You by us, Thy unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, appearing above all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and became worthy of His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Blessed are you, too, in the birth of births, God-blessed One, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, All-Singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation: and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned: for by Your intercession and help we are saved, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for all in the Trinity To the One God and we send all to the Creator, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Second prayer.

To You, Most Pure One Mother of God, I, the accursed one, fall down and pray: see, O Queen, how I continually sin and anger Thy Son and my God. And many times when I repent, I find myself lying before God, and I repent, trembling, lest the Lord strike me, and little by little I do the same thing over and over again. Know this, my Lady, the Most Holy Theotokos, why don’t you have mercy, why don’t you strengthen me, and why don’t you always grant me to do good? Weigh, O Lady, for the imam is by no means in hatred of my evil deeds and with all my thoughts I love the law of my God. But we don’t know, Most Pure Lady, where I come from, even when I hate, I create, and I transgress. But do not, Most Holy One, allow my will to be fulfilled, it is unlike it is, but may the will of Your Son and my God be done in me, may He save me, and enlighten me, and give me the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that from now on I will cease to act filthyly, and the rest will live in the commandments of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him is due all glory, honor, worship and splendor, with His Beginning Father and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Prayer three.

Oh, Most Holy, God's Chosen Virgin, the Holy Comforter of the Spirit, the All-Immaculate Bride, the Most Precious Daughter of the Divine Father in Heaven, found in the midst of the thorns of this world, like a crystal shining with the kindness of virginity, so that the Son of God will be the Pure Mother of the Unartificed! What shall we reward You on this bright day of this Annunciation, since You surprised the Archangel Gabriel with the beauty of Your immeasurable virginity and from this You received indescribable joy? What shall we bring to You for all Your consolation, in whose image You have rejoiced on this day the whole world, visible and invisible, especially the human race that fell in ancient times? The day of our salvation began and the sacrament has been revealed since the ages: now the Word of God quietly descended from heaven, like a drop dripping onto the earth, and dwelt in Your God-gracious Virgin womb and became the Flesh for our salvation. For this reason, today the Angels rejoice in heaven and all creation rejoices and rejoices, celebrating the beginning of its liberation from the work of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Now the female nature rejoices, for the sake of Eve it fell, for having obeyed the serpent, it gave birth to sadness to women and uncontrollably introduced death. But you, Virgin, have freed the entire human race from bitter labor and have honored the female nature with the freedom of Christ; you have introduced true life before pure virginity, and for this reason, for the sake of your wife, holding virginity, you are beginning to defeat the enemy. Now Adam rejoices, seeing that on this bright day the first gospel of heaven has been fulfilled on You, as the seed of the Woman will erase the head of the serpent. With him the whole human race now rejoices, because through You, Most Pure One, God’s ancient aversion to man has now been abolished, for you have again brought God to us. For this reason, we see You now, like Jacob of old, like the High Ladder, Who God brought down to earth and like the Most Wonderful Bridge, by whom He raised those who are from the earth back to heaven. What shall we render to You, Queen of heaven and earth, for all this, in which You have given unspeakable joy to Your fallen and lost people? All our sacrifices and offerings are nothing before the majesty of Your blessings. There is only one thing that pleases You: “a contrite and humble heart,” which Your Son and Our Lord “will not despise.” For this reason, we pray to Thee: fill us with the surpassing heights of Your humility, so that we can contain Your tree, so that we may bring Thee on the all-holy day of Your Annunciation from Yours, in which we cannot think high in every matter, but will endure in the humility of the spirit. Decorated with this first virtue, on the bright day of this holiday of Yours, in meekness and purity of heart, with the Archangel Gabriel we cry out to you: Rejoice, Most Gracious, Rejoice, Delighted, Rejoice, Most Blessed, the Lord is with You and You with us forever and ever. Amen."

Troparion to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

voice 4.

The day of our salvation is the most important and the most important mystery since the ages: the Son of God is the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel preaches grace. In the same way, we cry out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you."

Kontakion, tone 8.

To the chosen governor, victorious, as if we had got rid of the evil ones, let us sing thanks to You, Thy servants, to the Mother of God; but as you have an invincible power, free us from all troubles, and let us call to You: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.”

Greatness.

"The Archangel's voice cries out to You, Pure One: Rejoice, O Gracious One, the Lord is with You."

Zadostoynik, voice 4.

Bring the good news to the earth, great joy; praise, Heaven, the glory of God. Like the animated Icon of God, let no hand touch the lips of the faithful to the Mother of God without silence, the voice of an Angel chanting, let them cry out with joy: Rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with Thee."

What to give for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The topic of gifts always remains relevant, because just before the holiday, for some reason, all ideas, like fog, disappear from your head. On the eve of such a good and bright holiday as the Annunciation, I want the gift to be sincere and chosen with all my heart.

Let's look at the brightest and most heartfelt gifts.

Suitable gifts for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa:

The most important thing in giving them a gift is attention and warmth.

Such a gift as commemorative coin“The Annunciation” will not go unnoticed by them. Surely they will hang it in the most prominent place, and every day they will admire such a sincere gift.

This category also includes beautiful icons, church calendars or, for example, a painting of the Blessed Virgin. If they don’t know, then warn them that icons cannot be hung in the bedroom, so let them find a place for it in the hall or living room.

From the very morning, all relatives, friends and loved ones will be very pleased to receive congratulations on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Gifts for friends:

What is possible in such big holiday give to friends?

Certainly, best gift- this is a book. Surely every person will be interested in learning the history and myths about different holidays, so a book about this is perfect.

You can give them themed souvenirs, such as a small wooden church or a figurine of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

If your friend is a motorist, you can give him car icons that will protect him on the road, most importantly, do not forget to consecrate them.

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Every year on April 7, Orthodox people celebrate one of the most important holidays in the history of the Bible - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditionally considered the twelfth, the number never changes. In 2018, the Annunciation coincided with Holy Saturday, which falls on the last day before Easter.

This is a big holiday that has been celebrated since the 3rd century.

The history of the holiday

Gospel literally means “good news” in Greek. April 7 was dedicated to the prophecy that announces the birth of the Son of God. This holiday has three symbols - a ray of light, with the help of which the Holy Spirit descended to earth, a spinning wheel - Mary was sitting near it when she heard the news that she would become pregnant immaculately, palm leaves - symbolize feelings and thoughts related to the sublime and not intersecting with worldly life .

The Virgin Mary was destined to become the mother of Jesus, because until the age of 14 she was in the temple in Jerusalem. Since after this age all Jewish girls were required to get married, Mary refused and promised that she would remain a virgin all her life. To comply with all the rules, the girl was engaged to the 80-year-old righteous Joseph.

Mary did not just receive information that she would become the mother of Jesus. She had the right to decide whether she was ready for this or not. Already from the 5th century, paintings by artists depicting this scene from the biblical tale began to appear in world painting.

Traditions and rituals on the Annunciation

A lot of traditions are associated with this day - it is strictly forbidden to work, sew, knit, slaughter cattle, or have loud and noisy fun. On April 7, prosphora baked by the mistress of the house is blessed in churches. There were so many people in the family that needed to be baked.

After they were eaten on an empty stomach, the crumbs and leftovers were collected and then added to livestock feed so that they would not get sick for the next year and would produce normal weight gain or offspring. Prosphora was given the same importance as holy water. In order for spring to come faster, domestic animals were released into the street with the symbolic purpose of “listening to spring.” The girls came to the church and performed the so-called “crooked dance” around it.

All this happened so that spring would come faster. Another traditional action was “releasing the birds.” To perform the action, birds were caught, mainly pigeons or tits, which were put in a cage. It was believed that if a bird was released from its cage on April 7, it would fly to the Lord himself and convey all the messages that people addressed to him.

Relaxations and changes on Holy Saturday

Since in 2018 the Annunciation is celebrated during Lent, there should be no meat or milk on the table. You can diversify the menu with fish and a glass of red wine. On holiday, it is not recommended to give something away or borrow money, because along with material things you can lose part of your health. It is also not recommended to wear new clothes; it is believed that they deteriorate faster.

Work in the garden is prohibited on this day, but you can take plant seeds with you to church. It is believed that they will bear more fruit. Combing and cutting hair is prohibited, because you can confuse your fate. Since this year the Annunciation falls on Holy Saturday, it is recommended to spend the holiday with your family, avoid visiting noisy places, and devote free time thoughts about the life of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion.

Among the twelve main holidays, immutably revered by every Orthodox person, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands out. IN church calendar, which the Russian adheres to Orthodox Church, this date falls on April 7th. The Annunciation is also called the event itself that gave rise to this important holiday.

This event has deep symbolism in canonical texts. The conception of Jesus Christ is inextricably linked with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise after their Fall. Since Jesus Christ is the Savior of the human race from the consequences of the sin of the first people, his conception is considered the beginning of a new era in the development of mankind.

According to legend, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the immaculate Virgin Mary with good news and rewarded her with gifts from the Holy Spirit. Remarkable important point- Mary's reaction to the good news. When Gabriel said that the power of the Most High would overshadow Mary and new life would begin to develop inside her body, she replied, “I shall be according to Your word.” Thus, the girl agreed with God's will and accepted it. Without Mary's direct consent this would not have happened significant event. But the holy virgin remained faithful to the vows that she made while still a student at the monastery, and remained faithful to God.

According to the old style, the Annunciation was celebrated on March 25. Since the third century of our faith, this day has been one of the central and most important holidays for all Christian denominations, but it received a special tradition in Orthodoxy.

Background and history of the holiday

ABOUT immaculate conception The Virgin Mary knows everything without exception. The Apostle Luke is the only one of the authors of the evangelical texts who described this event. His interpretation is replete with details and even refers to the exact time when this happened. Gabriel appeared to Mary in the sixth month from the day John the Baptist was conceived. His good news that thanks to Mary the Savior will be born is a blessing not only for the girl, but for the entire human race. As you know, Eve was cursed for original sin and all her daughters were doomed to the painful birth of descendants. But Mary, thanks to her integrity and sincere love for God, was blessed.

The moment of Mary's voluntariness and consent to the birth of the Son of God within her is a very important symbol. After all, it was important not only the incarnation of the future Savior of the human people, but also the fact that Mary, by free will and her decision, accepted this grace of God. Submission to Mary is one of the most important symbols of the Christian faith.

The Annunciation is inseparably connected with the plot important holiday, celebrating the Assumption for the glory of the Mother of God. According to church tradition, shortly before her death, the Archangel Gabriel again appeared to Mary, but with a completely different purpose and other news. On ancient icons these events are depicted very similarly: Mary is sitting with an open book when an Angel appears in front of her.

The Annunciation symbolically carries within itself one of the central motives of the Christian faith - the atonement of original sin. The Immaculate Conception made Jesus Christ free from the sins of the first people, and Mary, with her humility and willingness to accept the will of God, is the antipode of Eve, who violated His prohibition.

Until the 7th century, this holiday did not have a familiar name. In the Greek tradition it was called “the day of greeting”, “the day of good news”. From this, later, during the widespread spread of Christianity according to the Greek rite, it was derived modern name. The date did not immediately appear - March 25. According to the new style, we celebrate this day on April 7th.

Traditionally, there are two theories about the connection of this number with other important events in Christian history. Firstly, it is not difficult to understand the connection with the Nativity of Christ. After all, it is known that a woman is pregnant for exactly 9 months, and this is exactly what happened with Maria. 9 months passed from the day of conception to the day when the Savior was born.

The second theory connects the event with the creation of humanity. Man, who eternally bears his original sin, was created by God on this very day. This is what medieval theologians and preachers thought. Having created man, God on the same day, but five and a half thousand years later, created His Son, capable of atonement for the sin of Adam and Eve.

Biblical historians were also convinced of the connection between the Annunciation and the day of the Resurrection of Christ. It was believed that it was on the twenty-fifth day of March in 31 AD that Jesus Christ resurrected after his crucifixion. It is very rare in the church calendar for these holidays to coincide. If this happens (and such an event occurs no more than 1-2 times a century), then this day is called the Lord's Easter. This exceptional event is associated in the minds of the people with historical changes that radically change the fate of humanity. So, according to one theory, the decay Soviet Union in 1991 is connected precisely with the fact that Kyriopascha fell that year.

The Annunciation acquired a permanent and calendar basis closer to the 6th century. Although even before this time Christians revered important date, calling it the first holiday. In honor of the Annunciation, churches were built and church services. Thus, the history of this date goes deep into the past and does not stop to this day.

Orthodox traditions of celebrating the Annunciation

Orthodox tradition defines the Annunciation as the twelfth holiday, but it is also primarily a memorable day in honor of the Mother of God. This leaves a special imprint on the rituals performed and the atmosphere of worship. The all-night service is always held first. Priests and church ministers wear blue robes. In the Orthodox tradition, this color is inextricably linked with the purity that the Virgin Mary possessed and means the purity of Her soul and body.

Since 1995, an innovation has appeared in the traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church, directly related to this holiday. According to custom, on this day after the service, priests release white doves. They symbolize free will Orthodox man seeking God's Kingdom. But the roots of this ritual go back to imperial Russia. Doves are released not only in large cathedrals, but also in small churches.

In addition to festivities and ceremonial services directly on April 7th, the Annunciation also has additional celebrations the day before and the next day. However, these additional services are canceled when the Annunciation falls in the week before and after Easter. And, although this holiday always falls during Lent, the full Divine Liturgy is always held, even if other church customs of these days prohibit it. This emphasizes the special status of the oldest Orthodox holiday.

The influence of the Annunciation on the cultural and social life Russia for many centuries. Thanks to the holiday, a large number of settlements throughout the Russian land. Particularly honorable was the seminary surname, which was in tune with the holiday, and was borne by prominent representatives of Russian theology. The divine legend of the Immaculate Conception became the plot basis for the work of many Russian poets. Starting from Alexander Pushkin to Marina Tsvetaeva, poetic classics sang of God's grace that descended on Mary in their poems. Orthodox poets are still inspired by this story today.